Free Step Dodge

I wonder why do people think that. They're probably just angry a colorful kiddy game can be called such.
Besides, it's played competitively all around the world, that should be enough to make it e-sports.

Power Stone, a game similar to Smash played with items, never had anyone make excuses and go around in circles to make sure nobody calls it fighting game. Everyone always called Power Stone a fighting game.
But since Smash has Mario and Kirby then, sacrilege.

it was the cool thing to do back in 2008 but come on y'all, shit's getting old, and making less sense as time goes on

You compete with other players in a fight. That's enough to make it a fighting game, and every Smash game, even the worst, can get technical. Melee even has a really high skill ceiling (although that's its own can of worms).

"But it's a party game!" except you can reduce the party and random aspects to zero.

Honestly? I just think It's a joke taken too far. It's totally competitive and it requires a completely different skill and mindset to be competitive in Smash vs other fighters. For such a simple game the tech and meta is deep af

If the game got still popular while being a mainline Sony title and while having typical fighting game characters you wouldn't hear any of this. Nintendo will always have a stigma among many people because they will always make game primarly for kids and families.

Primarily for kids... And then they add The Umbra Witch.